Railway truck bolster mounting



1953 R. L. LHCH 2,821,147

RAILWAY TRUCK BOLSTER MOUNTI-NG Filed Feb. 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 United States Patent Q RAILWAY TRUCK BOLSTER MOUNTING Richard L. Lich, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to General Steel Castings Corporation, Granite City, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application February 11, 1954, Serial No. 409,585

8 Claims. (Cl. 105190) The invention relates to railway rolling stock and more particularly to connections between a railway truck frame and a load-carrying truck bolster movably mounted on the truck frame and controlling their relation. Such connections are commonly called anchors and as generally used consist of an elongated rod or tube extending lengthwise of the truck and connected at its ends to the truck frame and bolster, respectively, through disc-like pads of rubber-like material permitting the bolster to move vertically relative to the frame, according to the action of the bolster springs, and to move laterally of the truck frame, according to the action of spring hangers or lateral deflection of the bolster springs, but holding the bolster and truck frame against relative movement longitudinally of the truck.

The main object of the present invention is to effect and similarly accommodate the first two-mentioned relative movements and to similarly prevent the third mentioned relative movement and also to hold the bolster and truck frame against relatively tilting in a vertical plane and extending longitudinally of the truck and thereby resist pitching action of the truck or undue relative vertical movement of the opposite ends of the truck frame.

Another object is to utilize the anchor device to snub or dampen the action of the bolster springs or bolster swing hangers, or both, or other bolster mounting structure which provides for relative movement of the bolster and frame.

These objects are attained by structure as shown in the accompanying drawings, which are to be understood as illustrative and not definitive, in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of one longitudinal half of a railway four wheel truck embodying the invention, a portion of the structure being sectioned horizontally on the line 11 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is in part a side elevation and in part a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the anchor unit shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 44 of Figure 1 and showing both sides of the truck.

Figure 5 is a detailed section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 but drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a top view of an anchor and adjacent truck parts corresponding to the middle portion of Figure 1 but illustrating another form of the invention, a' portion of the structure being sectioned horizontally on the line 6-6 of Figure 7. a

2,821,147 Patented Jan. 28, 1958.

Figure 7 is a side view and vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detailed vertical section taken on the line 88 of Figure 6 but drawn to an enlarged scale.

The truck shown in Figures 1-4 includes the usual Wheels ll, axles Z, journal boxes 3, equalizers 4 and equalizer springs 5. The truck frame is a one piece casting including side members or wheel pieces 6 with depending pedestals 7 slidably receiving the journal boxes between them. Transverse transoms 8 extend between the wheel pieces and with the latter define a rectangular opening which receives the load-carrying bolster 9. Projecting outwardly from each wheel piece are brackets 10, 11, 12 at each side of the transverse center line of the truck. Swing hangers 13 are suspended by pivot pins 14 from each pair of brackets and 11 and at their lower ends carry a cross bar 15. A spring plank 16 (Figure 4) extends from side to side of the truck and is mounted upon cross bars and in turn seats; upright coil springs 17 which mount the bolster,9 in a: well-known manner. The bolster includes a center plate or central bearing 18 upon which the vehicle body B is pivotally supported.

At each side of the truck is an anchor A connecting the bolster and truck as described in the introductoryportion of the specification and comprising a linkage here shown as an H-shape horizontal link, includingv substantially spaced arms 20 and a rigid cross piece 21. Pivotally connected to the outer ends of arms 20 is a U-shaped link having upright legs 22 and a rigid cross piece 23. The links are pivotally connected by a pin 24. The remote ends of arms 20 of the horizontal link are fitted between brackets 11 and 12 on the truck frame and are assembled therewith by pins 14.

The cross piece connecting the remote ends of the individual arms on the vertical link are fitted between. the outer ends of arms 20 of the horizontal link. Cross piece 23 is tubular and forms widely spaced bearings- 25 for a pin 26 fitted between brackets 27 on the endof bolster 9.

The axes of pins 14, 24, and 26 extend longitudinally of the truck and the anchor permits lateral and vertical; movement of the bolster relative to the truck frame, but holds the bolster against longitudinal displacement relative to the truck frame and also prevents pitching of the truck frame in a longitudinal vertical plane. To function effectively, the arrangement requires and provides for good fits between the links and the brackets on the frame and on the bolster and between the links i themselves so there will be little, if any, play longitu-z dinally of the truck between the parts. If the fits be tween the parts are such that no play exists when the parts are first applied, they will operate for a long period without wear. Any wear, and resulting play, between the parts may be further reduced by using washers 28 as indicated, of material different from the adjacent material of the truck frame, links, and bolster. Such material may be bronze, brass, stainless steel, brake lining, material, rubber, etc.

In order to snub the movements of the bolster trans-1; versely and vertically of the truckframe, pin 24,-fo rrn-, ing the pivotal connection between the adjacentv ends "ofthe links, 'is squared to fit square openings in t he upright link legs 22 and turn with the same and mounts a shoe structure 30, having a square opening to receive the pin. Shoe is surrounded by a housing 31 integral with horizontal cross piece 21 and link arms 20. The shoe and housing have tapered opposing surfaces. Coil springs 32, seated against upright legs 22 of the vertical link, thrust shoes 30 inwardly of the housing to produce the desired friction between the shoes and housing. A renewable liner 33 may be used to provide the necessary frictional resistance between the shoes and housing and to prevent excessive wear on these parts. Each liner maybe a single unit or may consist of a plurality of segments.

With this construction, the linkage is placed opposite the ends of the bolster and extends lengthwise of the truck a distance equivalent to the width of the bolster, and the diameter of the center plate or central bearing 18, which is nested with corresponding body center plate structure, whereby tilting of the bolster'in the plane extending longitudinally of the truck is resisted. Accordingly, the linkage not only prevents movement of the bolster longitudinally of the truck frame, but holds the truck frame against tilting relative to the bolster in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the truck.

A simpler form-of the invention is shown in Figures 6,7, 8, in which the major portion of the truck structure including the frame wheel pieces 40 and its brackets 41, 42 and .43 are substantially the same as in the structure previously described and the general principle of the linkage corresponds to that previously described, but the snubbing feature is notincorporated. The outer ends of the arms 44 of the horizontal link terminate in bearings 45 for pivotal connection pins 46, from which the vertical link arms 47 are suspended, and elements 45, 46, and 47 swing on each other and it is not necessary to squarepin 46 or to provide arm 44 with a housing or include other friction elements. The lower end of link 47 is pivotally connected to the bolster 48 by a pin 49 as previously described. The cross bar50 of the horizontal link'is positioned intermediate the ends of the link arms-44. The tubular cross piece 53 of the upright link is the same as in the link previously described. Except for the snubbing feature, the arrangement shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 functions as does the arrangement previously described.

Other variations inthe details of the linkage and associated partsmay he made without departing from the spirit'of'the invention and the exclusive use of those modifications coming within the scope. of the claims is contemplated.

What isclaimed is:

1. In a railway car truck, a truck frame, a bolster, meanssupporting the bolster on thetruck frame and providing for their relative movement transversely of the truck, anda devicepositioning the bolsterlongitudina'lly of the framecomprising a rigid link structure at each side of the truck extending transversely of and outwardly from the frame-beyond said bolster support means, and having a horizontal pivotal connection at its inner end to the frame, and a rigid link structure at each side of the truck having a pivotal connection at one end tothe outer endof the corresponding *first-mentionedlink structure and extending substantially vertically therefrom, and having a pivotal connection at its other end to the bolster, the axes of said pivotal connections extending longitudinally of the truck, each of said link structures having a width lengthwise of the frame as great --as its length between its pivotal connections and said link structures having abuttingengagement'witheachother lengthwise of the truck and having similar abuttingengagement with the truck frameand bolster respectively to hold the truck 'frame and bolster against relative movement longitudinallyof the truck.

"2. In arailway car truck, a truck frame with wheel pieces-each having outwardly projecting brackets spaced apart a substantial distance longitudinally of the truck, a substantially horizontally disposed member comprising arms extending outwardly from the wheel pieces with their inner ends pivoted to said brackets and being held thereby against movement longitudinally of the truck frame, there being a rigid connection between said arms at each side of the truck and extending over the bolster, a rigid member pivotally suspended from said connection to swing transversely of the truck and held by said arms against movement longitudinally of the truck frame, and a load-carrying bolster extending from side to side of the truck and pivoted to the lower portions of said second-mentioned member and held thereby against movement longitudinally of the truck frame, and means independent of andspaced from said arms and supporting the bolster on the truck frame for movement transversely ofthe truck.

3. In a railway car truck, a truck frame, a bolster mounted on said truck frame to move transversely and vertically thereof, rigid link structure at each side of the truck having an end pivotally connected to said frame at opposite sides of the bolster and engaged by a portion of said frame to be held against movement lengthwise of the frame, rigid link structure at each end of the bolster having an end pivotally connected to opposite sides of the bolster and engaged by a'portion of the bolster to beheld against movement relative tothe bolster lengthwise of the truck, the other ends of said link structures having a common pivotal connection to each other elongated lengthwise of the truck ,to prevent their relative bodily movement and this inclination lengthwise of the truck, the axes of the three pivotal connections extending horizontally and longitudinally of the'truck.

4. A railway truck constructed as described in claim 3 in which the connections between the link structures at each side of the truck include'meansfrictionally'resisting the movement ofthe associated links relative'to each other about their common pivotal connection.

5. An anchor for connecting a railway truck bolster to a railway truck frame comprising a pair of links with adjacent ends provided with .a common pivotal connection, each of said links including a pair ofqsubstantially parallel arms, spaced apart a substantial distance from each other lengthwise of the pivotal connection, and structure holding the arms .of the links against inclination lengthwise of their pivotal connections and rigid with each other, the unconnected ends of the arms havingbearings for pins pivotally connecting the links to a truck bolster and truck frame, respectively, the axes of said pivotal connection andsaidpins being parallel, there being a trio tional device aboutthe common pivot of said links yieldingly resisting movement of the links about their common pivotal connection.

6. An anchor asdescribed in claim 5 in which the frictional device includeselements tapered longitudinally and radially of the pivotal connection and movable with the respective links aboutthe axis of said pivotal connection but movable relative to each other lengthwise. of the connection, and means thrusting said elements into frictional engagement with. each other.

7. An anchor as described in claim 5 in which thefrictional device includes a conical housing member movable with one-of said links, about the pivotal connection aconical shoe member movable with the otherof saidlinks about the pivotal connection, .atleast oneof said members being movable longitudinally of the pivotal connection, and a spring thrusting a large end of the shoe member towards a small end of. the housing member.

8. In a railway cartruck, a truck frame, hangerspivotally suspendedfrom each side of ,said frame to swing transversely thereof, springs supported fromrthe swinging ends :of, said hangers,;abolster-mounted on said springs, and an anchor posted-led outboard of thehang r an connecting the frame and each end of the bolster to hold the same against relative movement lengthwise of the truck and comprising a rigid link pivotally connected to each end of the bolster, the axis of the pivotal connection extending longitudinally of the truck and the pivotal connections having bearings spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the bolster, a rigid link pivotally connected to the remote ends of said first-mentioned link and having a pivotal connection to the truck frame at points spaced apart a distance approximately as great as the width of the bolster, the axes of said pivotal connections extending longitudinally of the truck.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nystrom et al May 18, 1943 Pfiager Oct. 5, 1943 Orr et al June 26, 1951 Krautheim Apr. 15, 1952 Cripe Apr. 29, 1952 Coskun Jan. 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 23, 1936 

